Car-vestibule diaphragm.



H. HEHRGYR. GAR VESTIBULE DIAHRAGM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1912.

l, 125,740., Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

'entraran HRRY'H. SCHROYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO THE ACME SUPELY CQMPANY, A. CORPORATION GF ILLZIINOIS.

CAR-VESTIBULE IDIAPHRAGM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Jamin?, MM5..

applicati@ inea aprile, i912. sei-iai no. 689,356.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. Scrrnoynn, .n.citizen of the United States, and a resident of. the cit i of Chica Oo, in the county of o' Cook vand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Vestihulc Diaphragme; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, .and exact description of the same, reference iube'ing had to the .accompanying` drawings:

and.to the numbers of reference marl-:ed thereon, which form apart of this specification.

rlhis invention relates to that class of diat phragms adapted for engagement between theldiaphragm face plate and the i'estibule faceiplate to aiiord va flexible connection therebetween. Heretofore such diaphragme have usually been constructed in Iaccordion folds, sometimes of strips of cotton (or which are riveted,

other suitable) belting, sewed or stapled together edge to edge, with corresponding strips, so that each fold ai'- ords acuteangles to receive dirt and moisture, .and kthe inwardly directed folds of Iwhich, receiving and retaining the dirt and moisture, are soon rotted and injured, thereby necessitating. repairs. It is also true that .as fheretofore constructed, sparks readily Sohndlodgment in such angles of the diaphragnnl thereby frequently so injuring the diaphragmas to necessitate renewal.

:'llhc'nbject of this invention is to afford a diaphragm so constructed as to be entirely .self-.cleaning from dirt and sparks, and to ,aBorda Aconstruction into which water or moisture cannot find access, thereby ,obviating the rotting .of the fabric land consequent short life.

{Itis .also an-object ofthe inventionto aiord a construction wherein a desired -numberof strips of fabric of suitable width arebent .to afford U-shaped sections, and are engazsyedat-y theinedges with the respective i5 lfaceplates and thev adjacent. edges Ofanother similarly shaped section, the smooth concave .bend in .the diaphragm section be tween thepoint af-attachment therefor pre- .cludingrthe lodgment and retention of dirt or sparks therein and insuring the quick vdrainage of water. or snow therefrom--and .the .thorough 4drying of .the fabric.

{Itisa further: objectof theinvention to .afford a'construction permitting `the actual amount of material .used .in the-diaphragm to be reduced as compared with prior constructions, but in which great amplitude of movement oi. the diaphragm face plate relatively the vestibule face plate, is permitted without danger of straining or injuring the dimitir-agili.

The invention embraces many novel teatures, and (in aV ,preferred form) is illus` trut-ed in the drfziwings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure l is a vertical section oi a diagram embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary -tical section illustrating more particue construction oi the top of the dia- Fig. 3 is a section on line fh-3 of Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary :n on line e--slof Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an ci fzrged section on line 5 of Fig. 4.

is shown in the drawings: l, indicates the vestibule Yface plate, and 2, the diaphra ein face plate, which are constructed as usual, and between which, and engaged to both. is the diaphragm embodying` my invention. Said diaphragm comprises leg sections 3, arch or shoulder' sections #i and 5, andtop sections 6, and said sections are fastened together in any suitable manner -to afford a tight joint at their' ends. For this purpose, the ends of the sections may abut, and covering strips of thinner fabric may be secured thereorcr on each side thereof, or the 4same may be arranged. together in overlapped relation at the ends, as shown in Fig. 2, with the end of each upper section a strip orubherized canvas or other suitablematerial such as cotton belting, and conveniently of,approximatelyT twelve inches in width, is bent longitudinally to afford a Ushaped cross section, as shown in Figs. .3 and 4,and engaged to a correspondingstrip, the edges o which extend in the same -plane therewith bymeans of staples 7, or by rivets,bolts, sewingv or any suitable means to adord a permanent engagement or by detachable means ,affording a releasable engagementto rigidly bindsaid sections together. .As shown, a-channelstrip-S, `is engagedoverrthe cutwardlyadirected edges of Ail) said diaphragm sections along the leg thereof, and the staples 7, are driven therethrough, as shown more plainly in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive. The inner edge 10, of the diaphragm section is then secured to the vestibule face plate by means of an apertured angle strip ll, and pins 12, set in said face plate to extend through said apertures and cotteiI pins 13, are engaged in apertures in the heads of said pins, as shown in Figs. 3 and Ll, and as illustrated in one of my former patents, to-wit, No.' 768,775, issued to me on the 30th day of August, 190%. The other edge of the diaphragm section, is engaged on bolts 14, which extend through the diaphragm face plate and through the edge of the diaphragm section and also through a retaining or clamping plate l5, and the nuts on said bolts act to firmly clamp said plate against "the diaphragm to hold the same in place.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the top of the diaphragm is made of double thickness the outer fold or layer B, fitting closely in the tl-shaped bend of the top reinforcing section G, as shown .in Fig. 3, with the edges thereof engaged tege her by similar means to those described whereby the diaphragn'i sections are engaged together, and to the respective .face plates. For this purpose, of course, stapliiig or other means ot' securing the edges together will sullice, and said edges may be covered by any suitable retaining means or may themselves extend over and cover the edges of the diaphragm section G. Said outer layer B, in the diaphragm top may be constructed of fire-proof and water-proof material and may be of a length to overlap and extend beyond the ioint between the section 5, of the diaphragm shoulder and the top section (3, and greatly slilfeus the top.

As before stated, in the construction shown the. outwardly directed central edges of the diaphragm members are covered with apsuitable angle strip or channel, which is secured to cover the same to prevent dirt or moisture finding its way therebetween and is engaged in place by means of staples" which extend therethrough and through the fabric. Such :ingle strips 8. for the top, articulate with, or are hinged to the correspending :ingle strip 8, for the leg by bolts 8u to permit a certain amount of relative movement. without danger of injury. Of course, it is not essential that metal be used for this purpose, or if a metal reinforcement be used. that it need be exterior to the edges ofthe diaphragm sections, as any ofthe well known means for covering such outwardly directed edges, or for reinforcing the same, mar be employed. if desired.

The operation is as follows: Obviously, diaphragms constructed as described afford no entrant angles to receive dirt, dust and ingl a substantially cylindrically concave bottom. This is assured from the manner of attaching the parts together, inasmuch as the relatively wide strip of fabric, when bent to U-form, acts as a spring, and in consequence, the vsides of the diaphragm lie fiat against the face plate for a considerable portion of their width and extend inwardly from the channel 8, substantially in flat face contact against one another, thus aifording a large curvature for the inner bend of the diaphragm. The top of the diaphragm being of double thickness, is greatly strengthened thereby and the tendency to sag is ob viated as each layer of the fabric supports and braces the other to a considerable extent and serves to carry all stresses to the diaphragm legs.

Owing to the construction described, a very large degree of expansion of the diaphragm is possible, so that although less material is actually employed than in diaphragms as heretofore constructed, the utmost limit of movement of the diaphragm face plate relatively the vestibule face plate is permitted without danger of injury to the diaphragm.

Very numerous details of construction and application may be varied I have shown but av preferred forni of the construction, and I therefore, of course, do not purpose limiting the patent to be granted on this application, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

l. A car vestibule diaphragm comprising a plurality of U-formed sections connected together, each section comprising a plurality of U-formed members, and metal guard binding strips for the edges thereof articulated together.

2. A car vestibule diaphragm comprising leg sections and top sections detachably secured together, said top members being of double thickness and metalguard binding strips on each ofsaid sections and articulated at the connection of the leg and top sections.

3. In a car vestibule diaphragm, leg sections of single thickness and top sections each comprising a plurality of members of double thickness arranged in overlapped relation.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of leg sections ot single thickness and top sections connected thereto of double thickness.

5. In a device of the class described top and leg sections and segmental sections connecting the same. said leg and segmental sections of single thickness and said top sec.- tion of double thickness.

ISG

6. In adevice of the class described a U- shaped top section of double thickness, U- shaped leg sections and U-shaped segmental sections connecting the top and leg sections,

-top strips, longitudinally folded to a U- cross-section, and shoulder pieces of a similar cross-section connecting the side and top strips at the corners, substantially as described.

9. In a-car vestibule diaphragm of the accordion type, a section comprising side and top strips, longitudinally folded to a U- cross-section, and a plurality of shoulder stripsof a similar cross-section connecting the side and top strips aty the corners.

' 10. A car vestibule diaphragm of the accordion type, sections comprising side and top strips and curved shoulder pieces all longitudinally folded to a U-cross-section, the shoulder pieces joining the top with the side strips with overlapping joints and the bottom of the shoulder pieces extending in a substantially curved line between the point'of` junction with the top and side strips. j

11. A car vestibule diaphragm of the accordion type, each section comprising side and top strips and shoulder pieces all longitudinally folded to a U-cross-section, the shoulder pieces joining the top with the side strips With intermediate overlapping joints, and the bottom of the shoulder pieces extending in a substantially curved line between the point of junction with the top and side strips.

12. A car vestibule diaphragmof the accordion type, each section comprising side and top strips, and curved shoulder pieces all longitudinally folded to a U-cross-section, the shoulder pieces joining the top with the side strips with intermediate overlapping joints, and the bottom of the shoulder pieces extending ina curved line bctween the point of junction with the top and si de strips.

13. A car vestibule diaphragm of the accordion type, each section comprising two side Strips and a top strip, and curved shoulder pieces all longitudinally folded to a U- cross-section, the shoulder pieces joining the top with-the side strips with intermediate A:rerlapping joints.

lli. A car vestibule diaphragm of the accordioirtype. each section comprising' two side strips and a top strip of double thickness, and shoulder pieces all longitudinally folded to a U-cross-section, the shoulder pieces joining the top with the side strips and the bottom of the shoulder pieces extending in a curved line between the point of junction with the top and side strips.

15. A car vestibule diaphragm of the accordion type, each section comprising side and top strips., and a plurality of shoulder pieces secured thereto in overlapped relation and all longitudinally folded to a U- cross-section.

16. A car vestibule diaphragm of the accor-dion type, each section comprising two side strips a top strip of double thickness, and shoulder pieces of single thickness all longitudinally folded, the shoulder pieces joining the top with the side strips.

17. A car vestibule diaphragm of the ac-k cordion type, each section comprising two side strips, a top strip of double thickness. and corner pieces of single thickness joining said top with the side strips.

In vtestimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY nl soi-morne..

Witnesses LAWRENCE REIBSTEIN, GEORGE R. MOORE. 

